Facts

So what exactly does the equine industry mean to Marion County's economy?

Local officials are asking members of the business community to take a quick survey, available online now, in hopes of getting answers.

Sponsors of the survey include the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, Ocala Breeders Sales Co. and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership, and the online link is: https://www.research.net/s/OCALAEQUINEINDUSTRYEISTUDY

Kevin T. Sheilley, CEP president and CEO, said the survey is open to all businesses, should be available online for about a week and take no more than three minutes to finish.

The aim of the poll is to measure both direct and indirect economic impacts from horse industry businesses and events.

"The feed store knows how important the equine industry is to them, obviously," Sheilley said. "But maybe the truck dealer doesn't realize it until they think about it and then they say, ‘Man, I sell a lot of pickup trucks to horse farms.' Maybe the restaurateur says, ‘Look we know the minute OBS or HITS is going on because our sales go up 50 percent' and the boutique downtown says the same thing. We want to see how all the little pieces are impacted."

Sheilley also made it clear: The survey is not just about the thoroughbred industry but is focusing on any and all equine concerns.

"If it's a horse, we're interested in it," he said.

Sport Management Research Institute of Carlsbad, California, is conducting the study, under the direction of Kathleen Davis.

"She's the economist who does the Super Bowl," Sheilley said. "She's used to doing big events, big economic drivers."

The online survey is the second phase of the study, according to Sheilley, who said the first phase began around the June OBS Sale, when Davis and her team began gathering data with the help of University of Florida economists.

Davis "was quite surprised at the strength of the preliminary data," Sheilley said.

Economists hope to issue their final report in October, according to Sheilley, who said the CEP's portion of the survey costs is coming from funds it budgeted.

"FTBOA and OBS really stepped up as great partners," he said. "They're underwriting the majority of the study."

<p>It's not just a saying but a trademark: Ocala is the "Horse Capital of the World."</p><p>So what exactly does the equine industry mean to Marion County's economy?</p><p>Local officials are asking members of the business community to take a quick survey, available online now, in hopes of getting answers.</p><p>Sponsors of the survey include the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, Ocala Breeders Sales Co. and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership, and the online link is: https://www.research.net/s/OCALAEQUINEINDUSTRYEISTUDY</p><p>Kevin T. Sheilley, CEP president and CEO, said the survey is open to all businesses, should be available online for about a week and take no more than three minutes to finish.</p><p>The aim of the poll is to measure both direct and indirect economic impacts from horse industry businesses and events.</p><p>"The feed store knows how important the equine industry is to them, obviously," Sheilley said. "But maybe the truck dealer doesn't realize it until they think about it and then they say, 'Man, I sell a lot of pickup trucks to horse farms.' Maybe the restaurateur says, 'Look we know the minute OBS or HITS is going on because our sales go up 50 percent' and the boutique downtown says the same thing. We want to see how all the little pieces are impacted."</p><p>Sheilley also made it clear: The survey is not just about the thoroughbred industry but is focusing on any and all equine concerns.</p><p>"If it's a horse, we're interested in it," he said.</p><p>Sport Management Research Institute of Carlsbad, California, is conducting the study, under the direction of Kathleen Davis.</p><p>"She's the economist who does the Super Bowl," Sheilley said. "She's used to doing big events, big economic drivers."</p><p>The online survey is the second phase of the study, according to Sheilley, who said the first phase began around the June OBS Sale, when Davis and her team began gathering data with the help of University of Florida economists.</p><p>Davis "was quite surprised at the strength of the preliminary data," Sheilley said.</p><p>Economists hope to issue their final report in October, according to Sheilley, who said the CEP's portion of the survey costs is coming from funds it budgeted.</p><p>"FTBOA and OBS really stepped up as great partners," he said. "They're underwriting the majority of the study."</p>